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#BestofFSCBlog :18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out. Software is Used Today to Sort through Applicants, so you Must Tailor your Résumé.

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Companies increasingly rely on software to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm.

Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

  1. Use your résumé to play up your achievements. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.”

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.

  1. Customize your résumé for each job application.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

  1. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate. Read more about résumé formats here.

  1. Make sure your contact information is easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

  1. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says.

  1. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of 7.4 seconds.

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio.

  1. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

  • Optimize keywords. Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.”
  • Use a straightforward format. Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
  • Think about order. When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title.
  1. Structuring your résumé around keywords is just one tactic. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC.

  1. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed.

  • Don’t focus on tasks. Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
  • Instead, explain what those tasks achieved. Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
  • Use metrics. Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says.
  • Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable. Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your soft skills.
  1. If you lack experience, focus on transferable skills.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

  1. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

  1. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have gaps on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be prepared to talk about them in an interview. “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.

  1. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to add a skills section to your résumé, outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

  1. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

  1. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick.

  1. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

  1. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending.

  1. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

WSJ.com – January 15, 2021 –  

#JobSearch : Résumé Formats to Play Up Your Strengths. You have Just over Seven Seconds to Make an Impression with your Résumé. Great Read!

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You have just over seven seconds to make an impression with your résumé. That is the average time it took recruiters to make up their minds about candidates based on their résumés, according to a 2018 eye-tracking survey by the career site Ladders.

Professional résumé writers say you could try shaking up your résumé format if you are struggling to get callbacks. 

1- Chronological résumé

The most common résumé format is chronological, listing your work experience in order, with the most recent experience at the top. It is straightforward, and many hiring managers prefer it because it is easy to understand.

How to format a chronological résumé 
  • Contact information: This should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address and location (city and state). You could also include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. Make it easy for hiring managers to reach you.
  • Work experience: List your previous jobs in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Format each position in the same way so it is easy for the hiring manager to read. Include the employer’s name, location of the role (city, state), your job title, and start and end dates. If you are still in the job you can write, for example, “January 2020 to present.” If you had more than one role with an employer, make it clear as a subheading or another line under the company name. List three to five accomplishments under each job. See more tips here.
  • Education: What you include here depends on your education history. If you didn’t attend college, recently graduated or are still in college, you may include your high school here. Otherwise, it usually isn’t necessary. Include the name and location of the college you attended, your degree and the years you were there. Recent graduates can also bulk up this section with their grade-point averages, although Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC, advises her clients not to include their GPA if it is below 3.5. Extracurricular activities and accomplishments can also go in this section.
  • Additional skills: This section is a great place to put expertise that goes beyond a specific job or internship experience, such as other languages you speak and proficiency with certain software or other technology. You may also mention soft skills, such as the ability to work independently, a particularly useful asset if you will be working remotely.
  • Certifications: If applicable, include professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

In most cases, résumé-writing experts say the chronological format is the way to go. “Overall, the chronological format is the most used format, and you don’t really see other formats too often nowadays,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer, and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2- Functional résumé

If you don’t have much work experience and the chronological format is not working, you could try the functional format. This type of résumé prioritizes skills over direct work experience and can also be useful for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.

Think carefully about using this type of résumé. “From a hiring manager’s perspective, I find this to be less effective,” says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. “They want to know what you did on the job even if it wasn’t directly related. Were there some kinds of transferable skills or experience?”

How to format a functional résumé
  • Contact information: No matter the format, this should come first. Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
  • Summary: Start with a paragraph of three to five sentences that serve as your pitch to the hiring manager. Highlight the skills that qualify you for the job.
  • Expertise: Identify the top skills you have that relate to the job you want and make a section for each. For a coding job, you could title a section “Programming Languages,” and list the ones you are proficient in. Under a “Customer Service” section, in bullet points, you could list the total number of orders you have processed and skills related to the role, such as communication, problem-solving and product or service expertise. You don’t need to say when or where you used the skills or accomplished the aforementioned responsibility.
  • Experience: In a short section, list the company name, location of the job, your job title, and start and end dates. You don’t need to use bullet points to describe your accomplishments under each position.
  • Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
  • Certifications: List professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

Functional résumés often work best if you are sending your résumé to a person you have had contact with, as opposed to submitting through a job portal, which often will use an applicant tracking system, says Ms. Watkins. “Functional résumés work for direct contacts because you are there to have a conversation, the feedback is there, and they can put a person to the position,” Ms. Watkins says.

3- Hybrid résumé

Hybrid résumés combine the best parts of the chronological and functional formats. The hybrid format allows you to emphasize your skills, but also provides more context around your past work experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick, who favors the format and says it tends to give a “better picture of who the candidate is on the whole.”

How to format a hybrid résumé 
  • Contact information: Include your name, phone number, email address, location (city, state), and the URL to your LinkedIn profile, if appropriate.
  • Summary: Similarly to the functional résumé, include a strong statement outlining your expertise, the types of employers you have worked with and your accomplishments.
  • Skills: List your relevant expertise in bullet points.
  • Select projects: If relevant to your desired role, you could add a section highlighting projects or campaigns you have worked on and what you achieved.
  • Relevant professional experience: Focus on relevant duties when describing your work history. Elaborate on how you used the skills that you listed.
  • Education: If applicable, include the name and location of your college, your degree and the years attended.
  • Certifications: Just as with the chronological and functional résumés, you can list professional licenses, technical courses or other certificates you have earned that are relevant to the job posting.

 

WSJ.com | December 11, 2020 | Allison Pohle

#JobSearch : 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid. Often Times, it Keeps you From Being Called for Interviews.

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After talking with so many people, I know many of you work and work to create the perfect resume, only to look it over when you are finished and realize your resume doesn’t say, or reflect, just what you want it to. And often times, it keeps you from being called for interviews.

 


I’ve included a list of “deal breakers” that might hinder your chances for an interview:

  1. Mizspelld Words or Bad Grammar
    While spell-check is good, it doesn’t catch everything – there could be a word that’s spelled right, but not the right word for the context of the sentence. Keep that spell-check in action but don’t rely on it exclusively. Misspellings can be the death of your application, no matter how qualified you might be. Think of how embarrassing it would be if you have been a mechanical engineer for 30 years and spell it ‘michanical’ engineer on your resume. Lots of times we accidentally misspell words that are actually words themselves i.e. “manger” instead of “manager”.

There can be other consequences, as well–misspelled words could interfere with resumes being found in the keyword search of a resume database. So, proofread your resume yourself – it’s important.  *Be sure to keep tenses consistent and check for the correct word usage (such as “counsel” versus “council”).

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

  1. Using a Vague Job Focus
    Be clear on the type of position you want to target – your resume should be geared toward that. If you just say “Medical Field” or “Manufacturing,” the reader does not know what type of position you want, so your resume will probably not be considered. Make sure you are specific as to the type of job you want, such as “Accounting Professional”, “Senior Management Executive”, or “Educator.”
  2. Not Including your Personal Brand, or your Value
    In today’s challenging job market, you must show your uniqueness, your personal brand, and let potential employers see the value you bring to a new position. Your resume must reflect why an employer should pick up the phone and call you for an interview over the hundreds of other resumes sitting on their desk. You ultimately get hired for the value you contribute to a company, so make sure it shows on your resume.
  3. Including your References on the Resume
    YOU NO LONGER NEED TO ADD REFERENCES UPON REQUEST on your resume. It’s a given that you will bring a list of references to the interview. Only provide references when they are asked for. Never include them on your resume. It’s understood that if a company wants your references, you’ll provide them.

    5. Adding Pictures to your Resume
    This might sound like a good idea if you are good looking, but it can also work against you. Unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, pictures on your resume is not a good idea.

  4. Making Reference to Political or Religious Organizations
    A GIANT NO-NO!! Don’t scare off prospective employers by referring to your political or religious opinions or affiliations that do not directly relate to your ability to do the job. An employer might not agree with your politics or might feel that the workplace is nowhere to display attitudes that might alienate others. The only time this would be appropriate is if you are applying for a position in this field, say a church or political arena.
  5. Including your Salary Demands
    This should not be put on the resume – it’s only used to screen a candidate out of the running or influence the employer to offer less money. Salary should not be discussed until you have had the opportunity to explain your value – in person or over the phone.
  6. Creating a Resume that’s Too Long
    People do not have the time to go over resumes that state everything you ever did in your career. Edit your profile down to the most relevant experience for the job at hand. Employers often gauge whether an applicant can deliver information about themselves in a quick, clear, and concise manner to sell themselves. Your resume must be long enough to show your value, but not too long, or the reader will lose interest.
  7. Using Incompatible File Types and Formats
    Electronic resumes should be created in the most readable file for most [Internet-recruiting] systems, which is plain text or Microsoft Word. Today’s resume needs to be readable by machines, which means text needs to have a font size between 10 – 12 and a simple font style, such as Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, or Microsoft Sanserif.
  8. Stick to the Truth
    We’ve seen what happens with CEO’s who embellish on their resumes. If you lie on your resume, you will have to defend yourself and your resume in an interview. Employers also do background and even credit checks, and inaccurate info could come back to haunt you.

Plus a few more…!

11. Don’t Put your Reasons for Leaving on the Resume

Save this for the interview. It doesn’t need to be on the resume.

12. DO NOT Make Changes to the Resume in Pencil or Pen
Add it to the document on your computer, not jotting it down or crossing something else out. This is never acceptable on a resume.

13. NEVER send a resume without a cover letter!
You must always have a cover letter. It states your intention to the reader. It’s expected and is important in job search etiquette. This is a powerful tool that can give you the competitive edge.

 

FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | November 30, 2020

#JobSearch : Seven(7) Steps to Renovate and Fire Up Your Job Search. When trying Something Different, You’ll Have to Renovate your Job Search for This as Well.

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If you’ve suddenly found yourself unemployed or furloughed for the first time in a long time, don’t despair! You are not alone. Many of my clients are taking this time to reevaluate what they have done and opting to try something different instead. When trying something different, you’ll have to renovate your job search for this as well.

Overhauling your job search can be a daunting experience. You might have the feeling that you’re starting everything over from the beginning, but that’s not the case. You have tons of experience that will be valuable no matter what job you decide to take. Things like knowing how a business works, getting along with coworkers, and knowing proper work habits already put you ahead of new candidates coming in. You have the advantage over workers with no experience.

 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

So, how do you renovate your resume? You have a lot of options, so before you start changing your resume, try out a few other options first. One thing you can do is go back to school or get more training. But you should do a self-assessment and see if this would actually be beneficial to you, work with a career counselor and let them help you to the right path. Look around and see what kind of options you have, don’t panic and just try to examine your situation. Then you can begin to retool your job search.

  1. Start with what you enjoy
    Do you have a long-lost passion that you wish you had embarked on? Maybe it was teaching skiing lessons in Colorado, who knows, but just start with what you enjoy. What do you want to continue doing in your next role? Think through the tasks you currently do that you excel at and what to keep doing. Look for roles that focus on those tasks or projects. Perhaps there’s a job related to your hobby that you would enjoy. It could be a completely different field than what you’ve ever worked in, so take a look around and don’t limit yourself. Maybe it’s time to get out there and try your luck.
  2. Create a company list
    Find 20 different companies you’d like to work for. Follow them on social media to get to know what they stand for and what their future plans are. There are always options out there, especially if you’re in a large city. You can find a multitude of positions that would fit your job search choice. But, try to reach out a little past your current job and find something that is different or that would excite you. Put this list together because you’re going to need it.
  1. Create a contact list

For every company you have listed, create a list of 10-20 people you can reach out to via LinkedIn. Go through your 1st and 2nd connections to help you make contact with a decision-maker. Craft a personal message to these individuals, mentioning your common connection.

  1. Begin renovating your resume
    This is definitely key. Start updating your resume to send to these potential employers, but make sure that you emphasize different aspects of your career that would be beneficial to your prospective employer. You should consider getting some help from a professional resume writer, they can take a drab old resume and create the right blend of personality and accomplishments. Make sure your resume is focused on what you want to do NOW.
  2. Network, engage, respond.

Use LinkedIn to network with people in the industry you want to be in. Spend 10-15 minutes on LinkedIn each day commenting, liking, and joining in conversation. Demonstrate your knowledge by posting original content and commenting on other’s posts.

  1. Send resume to potential companies
    Starting sending that new resume out! You have to get your name out there, right? So, what are you waiting for? You already have a list of potential employers, so what’s stopping you? It’s time to get the word out about you!
  2. Starting calling people back
    After sending out your resume, hit the phones hard. Don’t just sit back and wait for the company to call you. Be assertive, show them that you want this position, and that you are right for it. If you’ve renovated your resume correctly toward your new career path and showed the desire to learn, then you can have the job that you want.

 

FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | November 16, 2020

 

#JobSearch : The 4 Keys To Writing A Résumé That Gets Results. For Many Job Seekers, Procrastination Takes Over Because they’re Afraid of Rejection.

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COVID-19 tore through the global economy this spring, leaving extended shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, and mass layoffs in its wake. It might not seem like the best time to find a new job, but waiting for the perfect moment will only increase your risk of a career stall. Whether you’ve been laid off because your industry or company downsized or you just want to start moving your career in a different direction, it’s time to seize the day and start connecting with hiring managers.

For many job seekers, procrastination takes over because they’re afraid of rejection. One way to boost your confidence is to rethink your résumé, turning up the volume on your personal brand while focusing on the inspiring traits of the job you want—not the rigid expectations of the jobs you’ve had. Although personal branding is based in authenticity, there’s an aspirational element to it. Here’s how you can set yourself up for hiring success when you’re venturing into a different field alongside a daunting number of applicants:

1. Practice writing a personal branding statement.

Personal branding statements are like company mission statements, which are short and sweet and state their core message in general terms. For example, Tesla aims “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” Notice how this mission doesn’t refer to cars at all. You need to craft a branding statement that tells employers what your core purpose is, no matter which job you land.

In your branding statement, address the value you will bring to organizations. Touch on the problems you solve, the unique ways in which you do so, and who benefits from your solutions. A personal branding statement is a great way to garner attention from hiring managers and recruiters, but it’s also a tool to help you decide what you want out of the next phase of your career. You may want to consider adjusting your statement slightly for each position you apply for.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2. Restructure your experiences for the career change.

Your current (or previous) job likely taught you valuable skills, but you’ll want to frame those experiences in a way that suits your desired career. Recruiters will almost certainly rely on applicant tracking systems to sift through all the résumés they receive, and that software is based largely on keywords. Identify the keywords most commonly found in your target job descriptions and incorporate them throughout your résumé where applicable.

You should also think about refreshing the education section of your résumé, especially if you haven’t been in school for some time. If your college degree isn’t relevant for the career you’re hoping to transition into, list any recent classes or courses you’ve taken that might be more applicable. If you haven’t done any self-directed learning, there’s a wealth of free online resources and training courses you could take to help your résumé stand out.

3. Highlight your transferable skills.

What tasks did you need to perform in your last role? When you think about that question, the first skills that come to mind are likely job-specific. Think deeper and pinpoint transferable skills that your potential future employer will value. Were you a manager? Try listing skills like “people development” or “teamwork,” for example. Add skills that apply to any line of work, such as “financial acumen,” “written communication,” or “personal motivation.” More importantly, what’s special about the way you apply those skills? Infuse your personal brand while you’re bringing those skills to life. Which of those skills are the basis for your superpowers?

Here’s a great example from academia. Isaiah Hankel, founder and CEO of Cheeky Scientist, encourages degree-holders to promote what makes them unique. Only about 2% of the U.S. adult population (ages 25 and up) has a Ph.D., according to 2018 Census data. Why is that? ”Because adding to a field is hard,” Hankel explains. “Anyone can learn something and then repackage it. Anyone can regurgitate information. That’s easy. It’s so much harder to create information — to bring knowledge into existence for the very first time. If you have a Ph.D., you are a creator of information. This is one of your most valuable and most transferable skills.”

4. Show, don’t tell, why you’re a good candidate.

Anyone can make lofty claims about their past job performance, but a great applicant knows how to validate those victories. Would you be more likely to hire someone who “led successful marketing campaigns that reached new markets and yielded a tangible return on investment?” Or would you rather hire the person who “spearheaded three successful marketing campaigns that grew the company’s audience by 43% and earned an average ROI of 560%?” The first applicant is telling you they would be a good fit (and hoping you’ll agree), while the second applicant is showing you why they deserve the job.

According to Ryan Corbalis, a business recruiter at Indeed, employers are looking for applicants who can quantify and communicate the abilities they’re looking for. “One of the biggest things I’d stress that candidates need to convey is adaptability — this was true before Covid-19, but I think it’s even more the case now,” he says. “Likewise, I’d say this to anyone looking for a new role, but it’s even more important for those looking to change industries or careers: Show how your abilities adapt to this new field and focus on skills more than just experiences because skills can be applied in so many different ways.”

If you’re thinking about waiting until a more opportune time to switch careers, remember that there’s no telling when the uncertainty will pass. That’s why you should take steps toward the job of your dreams. Tap into your professional networks for real-world advice, and use the myriad free online resources to learn new skills and locate relevant job openings. Your most valuable resource is your own time, so don’t waste it on a job or an industry that no longer excites you.

Author: William Arruda is a founder of CareerBlast and co-creator of BrandBoost – a video-based personal branding talent development experience.

 

Forbes.com | November 12, 2020

#JobSearch : Fast Fixes for Your Resume.The Job Market is Tough Right Now, So you Have to Take Advantage of any Opportunity.

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There are a myriad of tactics and tools you can use to improve your resume and not all are painful or require a lot of redo to your resume. The thing is – they can help you get a job, and isn’t that what you want?

So how do you go about fixing your resume quickly?

1- Delete your objective.  Many companies do not care what you want. It’s a sad truth but one that you have to live with. Removing your objective gives more space for you to focus on skills that the employer craves. Instead, replace this with a Career Summary, communicating your brand messaging and value proposition.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2- Add a straightforward statement that explains why you are uniquely qualified for the position.  Such as: Proven Marketing Leader with Far Reaching Corporate Experience. Make sure that your statement is true and matches your job description. The last thing you want to do is make yourself out to be something that you’re not. HR Managers hate this, especially if you use a headline in your resume. But if done correctly, a statement helps recruiters immediately see that you are what they’re looking for in a candidate.

3- Include a summary of skills (keyword bulleted list) – especially if you have skills related to the open position. But, also include things like certifications, features you have, language skills, and any technical abilities that would set you apart from your peers. Do you understand Linux or can you program C++? Then add that on your resume. Any skills that you possess should be showcased, because it gives you extra value to the employer. You may not need those skills, but it’s good to have them on your resume.

4- Look through job descriptions in order to identify keywords companies are looking for on your resume. This sounds trickier than it actually is, but there’s a site called wordclouds.com. There you can copy and paste the job description, and it will give you a simple, easy to read explanation about the keywords that your prospective employer is looking for. Keywords help your resume stand out, and if a company sees that your resume has the needed keywords, you stand a better chance of landing the job. Adjust your resume according to the keywords and to match the description of the job.

6- Replace weak words and statements with Power Words. Instead of saying “Contributed to the company newsletter,” write, “Managed the award-winning Vista monthly publication, the flagship magazine of Made-Up Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of silicon diodes.” Both statements may be true, but the second one carries a lot more weight and showcases your talents. Make sure your statements are said with power.

The job market is tough right now, so you have to take advantage of any opportunity. Do not let one slip by because your resume is not up to par.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | October 19, 2020

 

#JobSearch : How to Target Your Resume to the Job Description. You Can’t Send the Same Resume to Each Job Opening!

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Whether you are reworking an old resume or starting from scratch, writing a resume can be a daunting task. And in today’s competitive job market with so many unknown variables, it can seem overwhelming at times. But even if you have a resume you’ve used in the past, chances are some significant adjustments need to be made if you’re searching for a new job.

If you have never done this in the past, resume targeting is writing a resume specific to a position you are applying for. You do this by taking the job description and matching your resume to the position. You probably have heard from an executive resume service that it’s important to do so, but in what ways are you supposed to match them?

Here are some tips to consider when writing your resume. 

Find Keywords from the Job Description

The first step is to have a printed copy of the job description, grab a highlighter, and mark each keyword you can find. These keywords should describe the particular candidate the employer is looking for, as well as the strengths and skills you possess. Once you identify them all, plug them into your resume as high on the page as possible. Include as many keywords as you can, but be careful not to stuff too many of them in to make it sound unnatural.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued … 

Consider the Audience

When you write a resume, you need to think about who will be reading it. It’s easy to talk about your past experiences and accomplishments. The biggest mistake professionals make is talking about previous achievements that aren’t relevant to the job they are applying for. When writing an effective resume, you have to write it while thinking about how a potential employer will read it. They want to see what value you bring to the table specifically for their company, and don’t necessarily care about anything else. By looking closely at the job description, the best professional resume writers can identify what’s appropriate to mention and what should be avoided. 

Determine What You Want from a Job

A mistake that many make is trying to reach a broader audience, keeping it more general. The thought is the more general your resume, the better your chances are of landing another open position, even if you don’t qualify for the one you really want. This can lead to a sloppy resume and an unfocused job search effort. Taking the time to truly discover what you want from a job, from a salary standpoint, cultural standpoint, work/life balance, and more will help you target your resume.

Ensuring your resume matches the job description shows the recruiter you took the time to review the qualifications for the position and you didn’t send a generic resume to multiple employers. This goes a long way in showing you are serious about their organization.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | October 15, 2020

#JobSearch : 6 Recruiter Tips To Getting Your Resume Seen And Landing An Interview. FYI: Recruiters Spend Only 7.4 Seconds Reviewing a Resume.

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According to the career website, Ladders, recruiters spend only 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume. Meaning, you as a job seeker have less than 8 seconds to make an impression on them.

Most job seekers want to share everything about themselves in their resume, therefore, their resume becomes cluttered and overwhelming for the recruiter. Moreover, the resume lacks a clear purpose making the recruiter confused about how a candidate’s skills will translate to the role in which they’re applying.

The career site discovered the resumes where recruiters spent the most time and focus had

  • an overview or mission statement at the top of the first page
  • a clear flow with title headers and marked sections supported by bulleted lists of accomplishments
  • relevant keywords presented in context throughout the resume

Here are six recruiter tips you can implement right away to get your resume seen and land a job.

Keep It Stupid Simple (K.I.S.S.)

Most of the time, the people hiring for the role have never worked in that position. For this reason, keep your resume simple and make sure it’s easily understood since they’ll be the ones reading it. To get noticed at a glance, Ben Lamarche, general manager of Lock Search Group, emphasized, “be sure to bullet point your most marketable skills and relevant management experiences. Don’t go into so much detail that a reader can’t form a quick mental picture of you as a candidate.”

Deepak Shukla, founder of Pearl Lemon, an SEO agency, said “cut out any fluff or experiences that are not relevant to the position. This puts greater emphasis on the information that actually matters to the recruiter.” Also, try to keep your resume to one page, but no more than two pages. David Reitman, Esq., owner of DLR Associates Recruiting, recommended to “focus on the past 5-10 years.” He said, “anything further in the past should simply be mentioned with no more than one line describing job duties.” Avoid repeating information. If your last job was similar to your current job, don’t restate everything you did; instead say, “duties substantially similar to..”

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Utilize The Words In The Job Description

Job seekers often complain about not getting their resume past the applicant tracking system (ATS). The reason being is because the ATS looks for specific keywords that are already in the job description. As a job seeker, it’s important to tailor your resume to include those keywords that are relevant to your experience.

Yaffa Grace, founder of The Essential Resume, advises her clients to take a yellow highlighter and highlight words that come up multiple times in the job description. She said, make sure you only use those keywords if you have the experience reflected in that keyword. You can do this by supporting those keywords with professional experiences that demonstrate you’re knowledgable. The worst thing you could do is lie about or exaggerate your experience. The interview will uncover those lies. If the interview doesn’t, your performance on the job surely will.

Lastly, if you’re going to claim you are detail oriented, make sure to review your resume for mistakes and have someone else look it over too. The quickest way to land in the rejected pile is by contradicting what you claim.

Tailor Your Resume To The Position

Most job seekers have multiple resumes. Each resume is tailored specifically for the role in which they’re applying by using the keywords in that job description. If you have a broad background and are applying for various types of positions, it’s important you tailor your resume to speak to the skills of those positions. For example, if you’re applying to a developer position, you would want to move non-relevant positions to “Additional Experience”, personalize your summary and skills section as well as the bullet points from your current and previous positions.

Chris Waltenbaugh, payment processing expert at Payment Depot, explained “for me, the resumes that stand out are the ones that show the person has taken time to think about the position in which they’re applying and carefully crafted a document that demonstrates their understanding and what’s unique about them that will bring value to the job.”

Focus On Specific Accomplishments Rather Than Vague Responsibilities

Rather than listing out generic bullet points from the job description, use specific examples that demonstrates what you’ve accomplished not just what you did. For example, using a statement such as “Increased employee retention rate by 45%” is a stronger statement than “Improved the employee experience.” It not only hones in on a specific outcome but it demonstrates your success that can benefit the company in which you’re applying.

Petra Odak, chief marketing officer at Better Proposals, shared “one thing that is guaranteed to get my attention when I’m hiring, is samples. We hired for a lot of marketing positions recently and the candidates that stood out are those that supplied a sample of their work. Be it writing, design, marketing copy or something else. Those that went the extra mile and showed us what they can do are the ones that got an interview.” She added, “everyone can write a good resume and cover letter, but a sample shows that you can actually do the work.”

Take It To The Next Level

Grabbing a recruiters attention requires additional effort. Christy Noel, career expert, marketing executive and author of Your Personal Career, expressed, “it’s not enough to solely rely on the job board or portal to submit your application. You should network to find someone who knows a person within the company that can be sent your resume to forward to the recruiter or hiring manager.” She explained “referrals have a 50% likelihood of getting an interview, non-referrals only have a 3% likelihood, so getting that person to submit your resume is critical to your job search.” LinkedIn is invaluable when it comes to networking with people at the company. Websites such as Rocket Reach and hunter.io help to find the email of specific people within the organization so you can send your resume and cover letter directly to them.

Another way to stand out is by being original in your approach. Andrew Taylor, director of Net Lawman, said “you can make your resume stand out by creating an infographic and including a video for your cover letter.”

Craft A Personalized Cover Letter

A personalized cover letter shows the employer you’re serious about the position in which you’re applying. Lawrence Calman-Grimsdale, marketing intelligence assistant at Jump, asserted, “it’s infinitely better to apply to three jobs with tailored cover letters than 100 without.” A cover letter should be well organized, concise and explain specific points from your resume that are relevant to the position. Furthermore, if you have gaps on your resume, make sure to give a brief explanation (health concerns, caring for a sick parent, etc…) so the recruiter isn’t left wondering.

To start, make sure to address the cover letter to the hiring manager in the organization. From there, each paragraph should be broken down into how you found the role and what made you want to apply, expanding on specific parts of your background that are relevant to the role and finally, a wrap up stating your excitement for the role, how they can contact you and thanking them for their time.

 

Forbes.com | October 13, 2020 | Heidi Lynne Kurter

#JobSearch : When it Comes to Resumes – The Good vs. The Bad. Hiring Managers Look at Hundreds of Resumes every Week. Does your Resume Stand Out?

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Resumes mean so much to hiring managers. It’s your first introduction to a prospective employer and it’s how you differentiate yourself. But what separates the bad resumes from the good ones?

The best resumes avoid abbreviations. Abbreviations are not professional nor are they accepted. Nothing makes HR managers cringe more than seeing sentences like the following: “Answered the phone and went 2 C clients” (yes, I truly have seen this). It may be the information age but this is not a text message so don’t treat it as such.

Giving up too much personal information is a no-no. You should leave off anything related to hobbies or interests that are not related to the job. Do not include your weight and height unless you’re applying for a position as a gym trainer. If it’s not related to the job in any way, do not include it on your resume. Leave out your illnesses or why you took off 2 years to care for a dying parent. As hard as that may have been, it will count against you.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

The best resumes are the best because they’re not being used as an art canvas. If you try to stand out by having large graphics on your resume, it’s a bad move, because this will give you an unprofessional and amateurish looking resume. Your prospective employer only wants to see your skills, your duties, and achievements. You’re not going to get anywhere by having a Word Art picture of a snail on your resume.

Keep the negativity to yourself. The best resumes are neutral in tone or highlight the best attributes of the applicant. But, if you have information on your resume that is negative, such as, leaving your previous employer because you did not like the boss, just keep that part to yourself. Do not try to explain the situation on your resume. That’s an impossible battle that you should not fight. Your resume’s job is to sell and promote you. So, don’t eliminate yourself because you were negative.

Good resumes include dates. Do not make an HR manager have to guess. This kills your resume on the spot. You have to include dates. What years were you in college, did you attend graduate school, or did you graduate from a trade school? How long have you been working at your current position? Do not make the hiring manager have to ask questions about your resume. The second they have to guess, your resume is going straight to the trash. Make sure your resume flows easily and there are no date gaps. If you took a year off to go travel or to go back to school, include this on your resume.

Bad resumes do not highlight achievements. Many people will fill their resumes with irrelevant information, but they leave off the most important part of the resume – focusing on their achievements. You want to stand out from other applicants, so how can you do that if you do not showcase what you’ve done. Explaining your past accomplishments means that the HR manager can see what you’ve done and know how you can fill their need. If you have the abilities, you need to showcase them on your resume.

Hiring managers look at hundreds of resumes every week, and you want your resume to stand out for all the right reasons.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog |  October 8, 2020

 

 

 

#BestofFSCBlog : Six(6) Things To Remove From Your Résumé. Note: Manager Spends Less than 10 Seconds Looking at your Resume.

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A résumé serves as the first impression you make on a hiring manager, so it needs to be laser focused to include only what’s most relevant and most likely to help you get the job.

With the average amount of time a hiring manager spends looking at a résumé clocking in at less than 10 seconds, it’s important that in those few seconds they see information that makes them want to put your résumé in the interview pile. To improve your chances of that happening, remove these six things from your résumé.

Dates other than listing your work history.

Unfortunately age discrimination, whether intentional or unintentional, happens more often than it should. The only dates that belong on your résumé are the dates of your work history. Graduation year and dates from any other certifications or qualifications should also be left off. Your degree and any other qualifications are what matter, not when you got them.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Details that give away your age.

There are some subtle and not so subtle details that can give insight into your age.

Including your GPA, using your school email address, and embellished job descriptions for entry level positions (ie, managed customer expectations while expertly crafting espresso beverages as a description for a barista position) are indicators of a younger candidate. On the other hand, using a font like Times New Roman, having an AOL or Hotmail email address, and even something as subtle as double spacing after a period are indicators of an older candidate.

Large blocks of text.

You want to optimize your résumé to be both easily skimmed and read. Large blocks of text require more effort to read and are more likely to be skipped on a first glance. Use bullet points for easier readability and to ensure that the information you want to highlight actually gets read. The easier a résumé is to skim, the more likely it is that the hiring manager will take a thorough look.

A photo.

Having a photo opens you up to potential discrimination. Whether that discrimination is intentional or unintentional, it’s still detrimental to your chances of being hired. Your appearance has no bearing on your ability to do the job, so therefore your photo has no place on your résumé.

Links to social media that aren’t relevant.

Your LinkedIn profile should always be included on your résumé, but choosing which other social media channels you list needs to be intentional. Remember, everything on your résumé needs to serve a purpose, so any social links you share need to showcase your professional abilities.

The social links you include will be highly dependent on the industry and specific job you’re applying for. Think of it this way – will sharing your social media do anything to improve your chances of getting hired? Does it serve as example of your work? If you answer yes to one or both of these questions, include it. If not, leave it off.

Your address.

Listing your address gives the hiring manager another factor to consider that you don’t want them to – your location. Especially now with remote work being the norm, where you live is practically irrelevant. For example, if you live in California and apply for a position in New York, the hiring manager might not consider your application even though the position is remote due to the time difference. You’re fine working in a different time zone, but the hiring manager has no way of knowing that. To prevent this issue, leave your address off of your résumé.

 

Forbes.com | August  20, 2020 | Ashira Prossack